The Roman Catholic Archbishop in the US city of Atlanta in Georgia has apologized for building a US$2.2 million mansion for himself.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory said in a column published Monday that he will sell the new residence and move elsewhere if that's what the people of his diocese want.
Gregory said that he failed to project the cost in terms of his “integrity and pastoral credibility.''
The nearly 6,400-square-foot home sits in one of Atlanta's most exclusive neighborhoods. A group of Catholics met with Gregory in January to ask that he sell the residence and move back to his original home. His old home was purchased by the Cathedral of Christ The King so it could become a residence for its priests.
The cathedral purchased Gregory's old home using US$1.9 million from a charitable donation.—AP